Lone Filipino entry in world sneaker design competition makes it to elite eight

A PINOY architect's dream of winning an international sneaker design competition is close to becoming a reality.

The winning streak of Archie Tolentino continues after he entered the final eight of the Pensole World Sneaker Championships, a global design contest sponsored by the the US-based retail chain Footlocker.

“Thank you for the votes! You can now call it a winning streak,” said an elated Tolentino on his Facebook account. He is vying for a spot as a designer in the Oregon-based Pensole Academy and a chance for a brand to manufacture his shoe.

After beating the US' Kurtis Hoffman in the Round of 16, the lone Filipino in the tournament will go against another American, Austin Scott. Tolentino’s white, black and gold “El Povernir” (The Future) entry is a sporty lifestyle shoe inspired by a Filipino company that made ‘Elpo’ rubber and canvas shoes in the 1930s.

Aside from contestants from the US and the Philippines, also in the final eight are bidders from France, Canada and India.